Combined soaping, scrubbing, and spraying device



Nov. 10, 1936. l 2,060,271

' scruJBBING, AND SPRAYING DEVICE W. H. ZIMBALIST COMBINED SOAPING,

Filed May 1, 1955 INVENTOR WILLIAM H. ZIMBALIST ATTORN EY Patented Nov.10, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED SOAPING, SCRUBBING, ANDSPRAYING DEVICE 2 Claims.

My present invention relates to washing and scrubbing devices, and moreparticularly it pertains to a combined scrubbing, soaping and spra 1-ing device for use in washing animals, such as dogs.

VOne of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a unitarywasher device capable of usage, when in assembled state, for Soaping andscrubbing; and being further adapted for spraying subsequent to, orprior to, the soaping step by a simple removal of the soap and scrubbingbrush.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a multi-functionhead for a dog washer device, the head being constructed to have aliquid supply chamber, a soap chamber and a scrubbing brush; the liquidsupply and soap chambers being separated by a perforated plate which notonly acts to feed liquid to the soap chamber, but also functions tosupport the soap cake; the brush, additionally, acting to positivelyposition the soap cake in its chamber.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a readilymanipulable washing and j scrubbing device for animals wherein a singleelement is made to simultaneously function as a protective sheath forthe flexible water supply pipe feeding water to the washer head; acoupling for positively retaining the outlet of the pipe in operativeposition at the washer head inlet; and a grip handle for permitting theuser to manipulate the washer head with great ease and dexterity.

Still another object of the inventiony may be stated to reside in theprovision of a scrubbing brush for a combined Soaping and sprayingchamber; the brush being constructed to readily fit upon the exteriorsurface of the chamber and in Contact with a soap cake in the soapsection of the chamber.

Still other objects of the invention are to improve generally theconstruction and efficiency of washing and scrubbing devices for dogs,and more especially to provide a unitary Soaping, scrubbing and sprayingdevice which is not only efficient and reliable in actual usage, but isfurther manufactured and assembled, or disassembled, with facility.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my inventionare set forth in particularity in the appended claims, the inventionitself, however, as to both its organization and method of operationwill best be understood by reference to the following description takenin i connection with the drawing in which I have indicateddiagrammatically a construction whereby my invention may be carried intoeffect.

In the drawing:-

Fig. 1 shows a full size plan view of a device embodying the invention,certain ofthe brush bristles being omitted to simplify the figure,

Fig. 2 shows a sectional View of the device, the section being takenalong line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 3 shows a detail front View of the soap chamber and the brushsupport, a part of the support being broken away,

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View of the perforated spacer plate priorto assembly in the soap chamber,

Fig. 5 is a magnified View of a detail of the soap chamber andperforated plate. when assembled.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, wherein like referencecharacters in the different gures designate similar structural elements,it will be observed that the unitary washing and scrubbing device ofthis invention generally cornprises a Water supply and soap holder headl which is provided with a perforated spacer plate, or disc, 2. Thespace 2 thus provides a sump, or well, 3 which is fed with water, orother desired liquid, from a supply pipe ll. A soap cake 5 is positionedagainst the plate 2and is positively retained in the position shown inFig. 2 by the innerV facel of a scrubbing brush 6.' The brush 6 issupported by a support ring "i, and the latter is slidable over theexternal peripheral face y of the upper portion of the head l when it isdesired to assemble the device.

The general elements of the device are assembled in a compact manner,and. by having certain of the `members perform more than one functionitis possible to secure highly eflcient spraying, Soaping and scrubbingaction with a minimum of structural elements. Considering, then, thespecific details of the device, and their attendant functions, the headl has a substantially circular configuration, and may be fabricated bystamping the member o ut of a brass blank. The base I' of the head hasrounded edges, and a series of peripheral beads, at substantially thecenter of the head, divide the latter into lower and upper portions. Theupper portion 2 of the head is provided with a slight taper 3 at the rimthereof.

The peripheral beads 8, 9 and l0 (see the magnied View in Fig. 5) areprovided in the head l by the usual pressing methods; the bead 9 is anexternal one, whereas spaced, parallel beads 8 and I E) are internal.rIhe bead 8 projects to a greater extent than bead Il) into the interiorof the head I. Each of these beads functions in a different manner; theouter bead 9 functions as a stop, or barrier, for the brush support ring9, while inner beads 8 and I0 act to positively retain the perforatedspacer disc 2 in its median position.

The spacer disc 2 (see the detail in Figs. 4 and 5) is stamped from a.blank of metal having con- Siderable flexibility and resiliency. Theconfiguration imparted to it is that of a shallow circular dish having acircular wall II; perforations IIl are provided in the base of the dish.Prior to the assembly of the spacer dish 2 in the head, the dish wall IIhas an outward flare. The angle of flare of the wall I I is such as tocause the bead I to force the wall into the substantially verticalposition shown in Fig. when the device is assembled. The height of wallI I is substantially equal to that of the spacing between the peaks ofbeads 8 and I il. Thus, when the dish 2 is in the assembled position thelower edge thereof is in tight contact with, and is pressed against, thebead 8. The rim of wall I I is in contact with the crest of bead I8,and, due to the initial flare of wall II and the resiliency of the metalthereof, the dish 2 is rigidly maintained in the position shown.

The perforated spacer 2 may be fabricated from a circular blank of anyzinc alloy metal, although it is to be understood that any type of metalmay be used for this purpose. The blank is provided with perforationsprior to the pressing out of the flaring wall; or they may be providedsubsequently. The dish 2 is snapped into position (the expression snapaptly describes the mode of fixing spacer 2 in position) by placing theinner face of the spacer on a block, and then sharply striking the headdownwardly with respect to the spacer.

The spacer 2 divides the interior of the head into the Water sump, orsupply chamber, 3, and the soap holder section. The liquid flowing intothe chamber 3 enters the latter through an inlet tube I2, made of brass,whose inlet opening is flared out over the interior face of the wall Ias shown in Fig. 1. The flared inlet of tube I2 is soldered in place;thus the inlet to the chamber 3 is made watertight. The tube I2 is,further, provided with an external thread I3; a spaced tapered nipple I4is provided at the inlet end of tube I2.

The flexible liquid feed tube 4, such as rubber tubing, has its feedopening disposed over the tapered nipple I4 as shown. A long rigidhandle member I5, madey of wood, hard rubber, phenol condensationproduct or other similar rigid nonmetallic material, is provided with ametallic ferrule I6 having an inner thread adapted to cooperate withthread I3. The handle member I5 is provided with a central bore in whichis disposed the tubing 4. It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the innerface of the bore grips the feed end of tube 4 because of the action ofthe tapered nipple I4. Thus, the member I5 performs three simultaneousfunctions; it acts as a mechanical union for coupling the rubber tubeoutlet to the nipple I4; it also acts as a protective sheath for theportion of tube 4 adjacent to head I; nally it serves as a rigid gripdevice to facilitate manipulation of the washer head.

The tubing 4 may be as long as is desired; it usually terminates with awater supply coupling to facilitate attachment to a water faucet, or

other water supply source (not shown). Of course, it will be clear thata liquid soap supply may be coupled to the feed tube 4. If desired asufficient amount of liquid soap, as shampoo liquid, may be poured intotube 4 to fill the chamber 3. In such case the rinse water will beallowed to flow into the chamber 3 after the soap has been consumed.

Assuming that water is being fed to chamber 3, the water is transmittedthrough the apertures I I into the soap chamber which houses the soapcake 5. The latter has a circular shape, and is provided with a centralbore which acts as a communicating passage between the perforated plate2 and the scrubbing brush 6. The soap cake has a diameter whosedimensional relation to the plate 2 and head portion 2 is as shown inFig. 2. By virtue of the recess in the face of the soap cake adjacentplate 2 the water from most of the perforations I I is able to Contactthe soap. Suflicient space is left around the soap cake to permit waterto seep into the space and contact with the soap cake surface.

The soap chamber is comprised of two telescoping members. One of theseis formed by spacer 2 and the circular wall 2'. The other member, orclosure top, is provided by the brush holder ring I and the scrubberbrush 6 whose configuration is that of an annulus. As shown in Fig. 2the upper face of the cake 5 projects into the bristles of the brush 6adjacent it. In this way the cake 5 is snugly maintained between plate 2and brush 6. The central opening of the brush is in communication withbore 20 and apertures I I because of this fact the soapy water is ableto reach the bristles of brush 6 and produce suds upon propermanipulation of the brush over the surface to be scrubbed.

The brush itself is formed into an annulus by bending the centralinterwound wire core 22 which supports the bristles. The free ends (notshown) of the support core are intertwined, and the annular shape isthus produced. In Fig. 1 the left half of the bristles of brush 6 arebroken away to show the construction of the carrier 22 and the supportring l. It will be observed that the brush support ring 'I is shaped incircular form and locked into such shape (see Fig. 3) by bending lugs3U, provided on one end 3|, over recesses which are provided in theother end.

The brush 6 is maintained in the proper desired position shown in Fig. 2by means of four spaced, vertical pillars 40. These pillars project fromthe upper edge of support ring 'I and are integral therewith. Eachpillar is somewhat offset from the body of ring 1, and is provided witha pair of parallel, forwardly bent wings, or shoulders 4I. The top edgeof each pillar is bent in a radial direction so as to provide aretention element 42. Thus, the brush 6 is held in place because thecarrier 22 and the bristles in the immediate vicinity are tightlygripped between the elements 42 and the shoulders 4I.

In use water is allowed to flow into the chamber 3 until it is filled.The faucet feeding tube 4 may then be closed. By gripping handle I5 andscrubbing brush 6 over the hair of the animal to be treated, say a dog,a lather is soon produced. The water flows through apertures II' intocontact with cake 5. The soapy water passes through bore 2U and over thebristles of the brush 6. When it is desired to wash the soap suds fromthe animals hair the ring I is removed, and the soap cake is taken outof the device. 'Ihe Water is 75 turned on at the faucet. The Waterfio-wing through apertures Il produces a fine spray to remove the suds.The dish 2 will remain in its position throughout the operation. Thewall H is so tightly gripped between beads 8 and I0, that the waterpressure will not remove it.

The size of the soap cake can be considerably varied when desired. Thecentral bore 20 may be omitted; and a solid cake with a lnarrowerdiameter may be substituted.

While I have indicated and described a system for carrying my inventioninto effect, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that myinvention is by no means limited to the particular construction shownand described, but that many modifications may be made without departingfrom the scope of my invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a casing having a base and anopen mouth, a perforated plate rigidly fixed Within the casingintermediate the base and open mouth, an orice in the casing wallbetween the base and plate, a liquid feed means coupled to said orifice,a circular band in telescopic engagement with the portion of the casingbetween the plate and mouth, said band being provided with a pluralityof spaced brush retainer elements, an annular brush having a carriercore retained in position by said retainer elements.

2. In a device of the class described, a casing having a base and anopen mouth, a perforated plate rigidly fixed within the casingintermediate the base and open mouth, an orice in the casing wallbetween the base and plate, a liquid feed means coupled to said orifice,a cake of soap positioned on said plate, a brush holder in slidableengagement with the casing adjacent said mouth, and a brush rigidlysecured on said holder, said brush and brush holder functioning as aclosure for the soap section of the easing.

WILLIAM H. ZIMBALIST.

